CHRISTIANITY AND DEMOCRACY

One of our most brilliant modern philosophers has here compiled his thoughts on the conflict of rival ideologies which he believes to underly the second World War. A staunch opponent of the doctrines of Nazism, Maritain also rejects Communism emphatically. While Nazism refutes the democratic principle, Communism reveals the futility of democracy devoid of Christianity. Maritain presents a solution which he terms a ""heroic humanism"", which is cognizant of the dignity of the human person as the ""builder of a more human world directed toward the historic ideal of human brotherhood"", or, in short, democracy imbued with Christianity. A readable essay about the fundamental issues of the day. It should command a wide reading not only among religionists but among all thoughtful Americans.